Bay Area blues singer, harp player, and songwriter Big Harp George burst onto the national blues scene in 2014 with a debut album entitled Chromaticismthat was nominated both for a Blues Music Award and Blues Blast Magazine award for “Best New Artist Album.”

Named one of fifteen rising harmonica stars by Living Blues Magazine that same year, George may be the first and only recorded blues player to make the big chromatic harmonica his featured instrument, instead of the smaller diatonic harmonic favored by most blues players. The results are a fresh and sophisticated sound, with influences from jazz and swing.

George is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the most compelling songwriters in blues today. His songs engage contemporary life in all its complexities with keen insight and humor.

This performance will celebrate the release of George’s latest album, Uptown Cool,a masterpiece of twelve original tunes ranging in topic from online dating to the human costs of disruptive technologies. No one is spared George’s irreverent wit – neither the powerful, nor aging blues fans, nor himself – but all in the spirit of rollicking good fun. George will be joined by most of the musicians from the recording sessions, including the brilliant and dynamic Kid Andersen on guitar.

Uptown Cool is receiving heavy rotations nationally and internationally, as well as rave reviews from critics, including Jim Hynes of Making a Scene: “For its combination of songwriting, musicianship, and its relaxed, unforced approach this is clearly one of the strongest blues releases this year.”

Big Harp George is not only redefining the role of chromatic harmonica in blues. He is also commenting perceptively – and often hilariously – on life in the twenty-first century. In doing so he is blazing a path toward restoring the blues to rightful prominence in American popular music.